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Words Kanji Guides About

人知れず (ひとしれず) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

人ひと知しれず

ひ

と

し

れ

ず

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

expression, adverb

secretly; unseen; inwardly

Describes an action done without others knowing or noticing; often carries a nuance of quiet, private, or hidden effort or emotion.

彼かれは人ひと知しれず努ど力りょくを続つづけていた。
He continued his efforts secretly, without anyone knowing.
人ひと知しれず

涙なみだ

を

流なが

し

た

。

I shed tears in private.

Kanji

人person
知know, wisdom

Similar words

密ひそかに
密かに also means 'secretly' but often implies deliberate concealment, while 人知れず emphasizes the absence of observers or the private, inward nature of the action.
こっそり
こっそり is more casual and often used for sneaky or furtive actions, whereas 人知れず is more literary and can describe quiet, unobserved actions or feelings.

Etymology

From 人 (ひと, 'person') + 知れず (しれず, the negative continuative of 知れる 'to become known'), literally 'without people knowing'. The phrase is a fixed adverbial expression.